IT CAME FROM THE BOTTOM SHELF!

For the release week of October 11th:

Arsenic and Old Lace [Blu-ray / Criterion]: Frank Capra’s adaptation of the popular stage play, Arsenic and Old Lace, gets a much needed 4K scan and digital restoration. Cary Grant stars in the story that combines murder, suspense, screwball comedy, romance, and criminal insanity. It also features fantastic character work from the likes of Raymond Massey, Peter Lorre, Josephine Hull, Jean Adair, John Alexander, and Jack Carson. The Criterion disc includes a 1952 radio adaptation, starring Boris Karloff in the part he originated on Broadway. It also has the best cover art I’ve seen this year.

Additional Titles of Interest —

Murder at the Vanities [Blu-ray / Kino]: Pre-Code movies don’t get much more fun than Murder at the Vanities (1934). The film features humor, ludicrous musical numbers, scantily clad women, murder, and mystery. Best of all, the multi-talented Jack Oakie is at the center of it all. Look for my full review soon.

By Candlelight [Blu-ray / Criterion]: James Whale directed a lot more than just classic horror movies. Here’s a romantic comedy that he directed in 1933. You can find my full review HERE.

Universal Classic Monsters: Icons of Horror Collection Vol. 2 [4K UHD / Universal]: Speaking of James Whale, his Bride of Frankenstein (1935) gets a 4K UHD upgrade in this collection, along with The Mummy (1932), Phantom of the Opera (1943), and The Creature From the Black Lagoon (1954).

Lost Highway [4K UHD / Criterion]: David Lynch personally supervised and approved this 4K UHD edition of his 1997 film.

Charley Chase At Hal Roach: The Talkies Volume Four: 1929 [DVD / The Sprocket Vault – Kit Parker]: The first six talkies starring funnyman Charley Chase get a very welcome DVD release in this collection. Two of the films are presented silently with subtitles (as was done with Harry Langdon At Hal Roach: The Talkies 1929-1930), because the soundtracks are missing. It’s great to see these rarities getting a video release.